tutor stories

🧩 For nearly 15 years, I dedicated my career to classroom teaching, spending most of those years abroad in international schools. I absolutely loved teaching, but as time went on, I found myself experiencing burnout. The structured routine of a 5am alarm, rigid timetables, and the relentless demands of the classroom were beginning to take their toll. Unlike many of my colleagues, I actually enjoyed the shift to online teaching during the pandemic. This unexpected enjoyment sparked a thought: could there be an alternative path that allowed me to continue teaching without the constraints of a traditional school setting?

🧩 I began exploring different options and came across a podcast featuring an interview with Sandra about the Jigsaw Phonics membership. The concept of tutoring online without the burden of lesson planning seemed almost too good to be true. Intrigued, I reached out, had a chat with Sandra, and by the next day, I had signed up.

🧩 That was 18 months ago. Since then, my small tutoring business has grown from strength to strength. It hasn’t been easy - building a business takes effort, persistence, and a willingness to put yourself out there - but the rewards have been incredible.

🧩 My days now look completely different. My alarm is set for 7:15am, and I start my mornings with a cup of tea in bed, followed by an hour at the gym and a long walk. I don’t even open my laptop until at least 10am. Signing up for the Jigsaw Phonics membership has given me the freedom to design my days in a way that suits me. While I still follow a bit of a timetable (old habits die hard after spending my entire life in a school environment), I now have the flexibility to tutor from home - or even from the beach! (A true story - finding one with good Wi-Fi and fewer people is key!)

🧩 Perhaps most importantly, I’ve been able to regain the balance I was missing. I now tutor for around 2.5 hours a day and have reached a point where I am making back my previous teaching salary. This journey has shown me that it’s possible to leave the traditional classroom behind without leaving teaching itself. Online tutoring, with the support of the Jigsaw Phonics membership, has given me the best of both worlds -continuing to do what I love while reclaiming my time and energy.

Click the link to find out more about Alice or book her as a tutor: she specialises in online small-group phonics tutoring and is also an experienced tutor for children who speak English as a second language. 

🧩 For five years, I dedicated my career to teaching, loving every moment of supporting children to achieve their potential. Teaching had always been my dream, and that passion never wavered. But over time, I realised that while I was giving my all to my school, I wasn’t giving enough to myself.

🧩 I was the teacher who always said "yes"—leading subjects, running after-school clubs, attending every meeting. I poured everything into being the best teacher possible, even if it meant working late into the night and through weekends.

🧩 But that constant "yes" came at a cost. I was saying "no" to things that mattered—time for myself, for my family, for rest. With my family spread across the world, school holidays felt too short and were often filled with marking, planning, and preparation for the next term. I started to wonder: was there a way to keep doing what I loved, but on my own terms? I was on holiday in Portugal, my family were enjoying time together and I had my laptop out to work on reports and I remember feeling so torn and thinking is this sustainable? I knew I didn’t want to leave teaching—I just needed to redefine what it looked like for me. I wanted to teach in a way that allowed me to enjoy other parts of life too: traveling, cooking meals I actually had time to enjoy, and reading for pleasure rather than just for work.

🧩 That’s when I found Sandra on Instagram. From our first conversation, I felt an instant connection, like I was talking to a friend. She wasn’t pushy—she understood my love for teaching and my desire to make a real impact on children's reading. The more we talked, the clearer it became: I could specialise in early reading and writing, helping children who need extra help to unlock their potential.

🧩 One of the biggest motivators for me was the number of parents who told me they didn’t know how to help their child with reading. At every parents’ evening, I heard the same worries: "I don’t know what to do when they get stuck," "Phonics is so confusing—how do I help?"

🧩 I wanted to bridge that gap, not just supporting children but empowering parents too. By transitioning into early reading and writing support, I could provide personalised, high-quality teaching to children who needed it most while also giving parents the confidence and tools to support their child's learning at home.

🧩 Now, I work from wherever I am. Whether I’m at home or visiting family I can deliver fun, engaging, and effective reading and writing lessons to children who need that extra support.

🧩 My students range from ages 5-11, some with special educational needs, others who are behind in their reading, and some who need more challenge than their current school curriculum provides. What I love most is that I can give them the time and attention that their class teachers may not always have the capacity for.

🧩 Parents love the flexibility too—learning doesn’t have to stop just because it's holiday time. I especially enjoy when my students are on holiday and give me a quick virtual tour of where they’re staying before we dive into our lesson!

🧩 Looking back, I know I made the right decision. I’m still doing what I love—helping children achieve their potential in reading and writing—but now, I have the freedom to do it in a way that works for me. I can support children and families beyond the traditional classroom, providing the guidance and expertise that makes a real difference.

🧩 And best of all? I no longer have to choose between being a great teacher and living a fulfilling life—I get to have both.

Click the link to find out more about Adrianne or book her as a tutor: she specialises in online small-group tutoring for primary children who either need support or more of a challenge in spelling, reading and writing. 

🧩 Teaching in the Early Years and Key Stage 1 had always been my passion. I loved making learning as fun and engaging as possible for young children, watching their confidence grow as they discovered the magic of reading and writing. 

🧩 Reception was always my favourite year group to teach, and it’s no surprise that I stuck with it for 12 years! There’s nothing quite like seeing that incredible transformation—from children starting school not knowing any letter sounds to leaving for Year 1 able to read and write full sentences. It’s a privilege to witness and be part of that journey.

🧩 But after over a decade in the classroom, I started to feel like I needed a new challenge. The pressures of teaching (mainly the outside of the classroom) were taking their toll, and I was craving more flexibility in my life. My partner and I love to travel, and I wanted a lifestyle that allowed us to experience more of what we love together, rather than being tied to term dates and counting down the days to the next school holiday.

🧩 The idea of doing something different had been on my mind for a while when, almost as if my phone was listening, I came across Sandra on Instagram. I was instantly intrigued, and after our first call, I knew this could be the change I had been looking for. Sandra was so understanding and encouraging—she made me realise that I could take the leap and set up my own tuition business, focusing on the area I loved most: phonics. By the end of the October half-term 2023, I had signed up with Sandra, written my resignation letter, and started preparing for my new adventure.

🧩 I officially launched my online tutoring business in January 2024, and now I teach children aged 4+ from all over the UK (and beyond!) specialising in phonics and early reading. It hasn’t always been easy—starting a business is a learning curve—but the support from Sandra and the wider Jigsaw Phonics community has been amazing. Looking back, I don’t think I ever would have had the confidence to take the plunge without them!

🧩 One of the best things about tutoring is the flexibility it gives me. I’ve designed my schedule to fit the life I want to live. I no longer have to work from school holiday to school holiday, exhausted and stretched thin. I can teach from anywhere, which means I’ve been able to travel more, spend quality time with my loved ones, and actually enjoy the little things in life that I used to miss out on.

🧩 Another huge benefit is the way I can now truly tailor my teaching to each child. In a busy classroom, it was always an emotional struggle knowing that I couldn’t give every child the individual support they needed in every lesson.

🧩 Now, I get to work closely with children in a way that meets their unique learning styles, helping them develop confidence in reading and writing in a way that works for them.

🧩 Seeing their progress first-hand, knowing I’m making a real impact, is the most rewarding part of what I do.

🧩 I love my new life—the flexibility, the fulfilment, the ability to make a difference without the extra stresses. Stepping outside the classroom and working with Sandra has also helped me to explore other areas of how I can offer my phonics expertise further! 

🧩 So now into my second year of LittleLearners I have just launched my ‘Ultimate Phonics Through Playbooks’ aimed at supporting parents of Preschoolers, Reception and Year 1 children at home with their phonics through fun, hands-on games and activities! 

Click the link to find out more about Jo here, including online tutoring for children age 4+ and her Phonics Through Play books which will give you the confidence to help your child at home in a fun, interactive way.